County Named for Texas Confederate Captain Gustav Schleicher

Gustav Schleicher was born in Darmstadt in 1823 and trained as an engineer at Giessen, the Handbook of Texas says. In 1847 he helped found Bettina, a communal settlement on the Llano River, and soon concluded that "the bigger the men, the more they talked, the less they worked and the more they ate." He surveyed the Bexar Land District from 1854 to 1861, published the Texas Staats-Zeitung from 1858, and in 1872 founded Cuero as a railroad way station. Elected to Congress in 1874, he died in Washington in January 1879 before beginning a second term.

What the plaque says

1823-1879 Chief purchasing agent, army engineer department for Southern armies West Mississippi. Bought desperately needed intrenching tools, iron, steel, lead and turpentine. Imported much material from Europe through Mexico by the exchange of cotton, "life blood of Confederacy." Established two engineer depots in Texas, designed fortifications and ponton trains. Repaired tools from surrendered U.S. frontier forts. A memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy. Erected by the State of Texas 1963

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Caverns of Sonora — 25 mi
  A show cave on a Sutton County ranch, opened in 1960 by cavers who wanted to stop the damage, and dense with helictites that grow sideways in every direction.

More markers nearby

• First Methodist Church of Eldorado — steps away
• First Baptist Church of Eldorado — steps away
• Site of Verand — 4.9 mi
• Site of Sonora Town Well — 20 mi